Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

“Is there anything uncomfortable?” Chen Fei asked with a smile.

“1 have night sweats. I hope the doctor can take a look,” the burly man replied, placing his arm on the table, waiting for Chen Fei to check his pulse.

“Night sweats? Judging from your appearance, it’s likely due to energy deficiency,” Chen Fei said as he glanced at the burly man’s wrist. However, he had no intention of checking his pulse; he had a feeling that something bad might happen if he placed his hand on it.

Chen Fei wasn’t skilled in medicine. He didn’t know about the techniques of observation, smelling, questioning, and pulse-taking. But he vaguely remembered that he had read some medical books and had some theoretical knowledge. He just hadn’t put it into practice.

“Doctor, shouldn’t you check my pulse first?” The burly man’s expression changed dramatically when Chen Fei casually offered advice. His voice became cold and menacing.

“Medical books say that observation, smelling, questioning, and pulse-taking don’t always require checking the pulse,” Chen Fei replied.

“Stay calm,” Chen Fei said calmly. Then, he reached into the basket beside him, and as a copper coin disappeared from his sleeve, the white sweet potato transformed into the appearance of a vitality pill.

“You have energy deficiency, just need some nourishment. Here, take this vitality pill. Your symptoms will immediately alleviate,” Chen Fei said warmly.

The burly man glanced at the vitality pill in Chen Fei’s hand, and his icy expression softened slightly. He took the pill and swallowed it.

Chen Fei raised both hands, and as soon as he saw the vitality pill being consumed, he performed his trick of ‘Stir-Frying Pork Liver’. Another vitality pill appeared in the basket.

Chen Fei quickly took it out and handed it to the bewildered burly man, saying, “One vitality pill may not be enough. Come on, have a few more.”

The burly man looked at the vitality pill in Chen Fei’s hand, gradually waking up. His expression immediately turned angry. He couldn’t comprehend the experience of ‘stir-frying pork liver’ that was going on in his mind. What was happening?

Having been in the city for so long, this was the first time he had encountered something like this!

“This medicine of yours is ineffective!” the burly man shouted in anger.

“That’s because you haven’t eaten enough of them. Trust me, have a few more, and the effect will kick in,” Chen Fei replied.

The burly man stared at the vitality pill swaying in front of him, his forehead veins bulging. Eating one pill already filled his mind with ’stir-frying pork liver.’ If he had a few more, what would happen to his head?

The burly man threw down five copper coins in frustration and angrily left the clinic. Chen Fei happily collected all the money.

“Next!”

Chen Fei looked at the bustling crowd outside the clinic and called out loudly. One patient was worth five copper coins, and with so many patients, the money was adding up.

“Doctor, I’ve been poisoned, please help me!” As soon as Chen Fei’s words fell, a person with a pale face walked in, and Chen Fei was already holding the Detoxification Pill in his hand. Poisoned? Great, saved another copper coin by turning the fruit into a pill.

Fifteen minutes later, Chen Fei had examined five patients, earning a pure profit of twenty-two copper coins, with three copper coins used to create pills. With the money coming in, Chen Fei felt his once stiff brain had become much more agile.

It seemed like there was something suppressed in his sea of knowledge that was starting to revive.

However, it was a bit disappointing that as soon as the fifth patient left, the crowded scene at the clinic’s entrance disappeared instantly.

Chen Fei intentionally got up and went to the clinic’s entrance, taking a few glances, and indeed, there was no one there. He even tried to have Ren Zhongyang resume his role as a physician, but no new patients showed up.

Deserted!

Chen Fei felt a bit regretful. He had finally found a fast way to accumulate money, but there were only five patients, and no new ones came.

Chen Fei even lingered for a while longer, but there were genuinely no new patients appearing, as if some news had spread among the crowd.

“I’m leaving.”

Chen Fei got up, ready to leave the clinic. He could feel the importance of money, so he couldn’t stay here indefinitely without making more.

“Can I follow you please?”

Ren Zhongyang had been standing by the side earlier, his mind alternating between clarity and confusion. He had forgotten many things he had just witnessed.

Ren Zhongyang instinctively understood that his situation was very unusual. Even though he was not clear-headed, he knew he had no reason to continue staying at the clinic, especially since he no longer had to work as a physician.

Ren Zhongyang realized that if he followed Chen Fei, he might be able to uncover some answers.

“Sure!”

Chen Fei thought for a moment and nodded. In his heart, he didn’t want Ren Zhongyang to get into trouble. Moreover, staying in the clinic might lead to more unexpected events.

Chen Fei picked up his carrying pole and started walking along the street. Perhaps it was because of the money in his pocket, but Chen Fei was now more observant of his surroundings. With time passing, his mind was becoming clearer, and his thoughts were gradually returning.

Before, Chen Fei had subconsciously ignored these things. Just like Ren Zhongyang at this moment, who was following behind Chen Fei.

However, following Chen Fei seemed to be taking a toll on Ren Zhongyang. He would frequently forget what he was supposed to do next, which filled him with unease.

Chen Fei attempted to sell his fruits to people he encountered, but for some reason, no matter how he promoted them, no one wanted to buy his fruits. Even though the people looked at the fruits in Chen Fei’s woven basket with greed in their eyes, they were reluctant to try one.

Eventually, Chen Fei stopped trying to sell the fruits and began observing the city instead.

The city was not very large, and Chen Fei noticed that the main street before him seemed to be the central hub for most shops and stalls, including the clinic he had just left.

Apart from the main street, he also saw some dimly lit alleyways. Just a glance at those alleys seemed to be enough to draw one’s attention and mesmerize the mind.

Ren Zhongyang had nearly been tempted to walk into those alleys himself but thankfully snapped out of it in time, averting his gaze.

Chen Fei didn’t attempt to enter those alleys either. Instead, he continued observing the various shops along the main street until he reached a martial arts academy.

When he saw the martial arts academy, Chen Fei felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, though he couldn’t recall where that feeling came from.

The academy’s doors swung open, and a cold aura rushed out. Chen Fei looked inside and indeed saw many figures practicing martial arts and cultivating techniques.

“Shall we go somewhere else?” Ren Zhongyang shivered involuntarily, feeling the eerie atmosphere around them.

“Strengthening the body is important. Would you like to come in and take a look?” A figure suddenly appeared before Chen Fei and Ren Zhongyang, seemingly out of nowhere. Ren Zhongyang instinctively took a step back as if facing a terrifying presence.

Chen Fei observed the newcomer, a tall and skinny figure with sharp cheekbones and bulging eyes. The suggestion of strengthening the body seemed unconvincing coming from him. However, Chen Fei could sense a deep, suppressed energy emanating from this person.

While the claim of strengthening the body might not have been very convincing, there was no doubt that this person was exceptionally strong.

Stimulated by this encounter, various images flashed rapidly in Chen Fei’s mind, but they couldn’t be pieced together coherently.

“We have other matters to attend to. Goodbye!” Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. The martial arts academy made him uneasy, and he preferred not to get involved with it.

A strange smile played on the academy head’s face as he said, “Weren’t you looking to make money? Your fruits won’t sell now, and no one will come to you for medical treatment.”

Chen Fei halted in his tracks and turned to look at the academy head.

“Can your martial arts academy help me make money?” Chen Fei asked in a low voice.

“It can, but it depends on whether you have the ability to earn,” replied the academy head, nodding.

“What do you mean?”

“Join my martial arts academy, learn our techniques. Once you’ve mastered them, your tuition fee will be doubled in return!”

The academy head smiled ominously and pointed to the largest fruit in Chen Fei’s basket, saying, “That will be your tuition fee, nothing else.”

Chen Fei looked at the largest fruit in his basket, realizing that it represented everything he had. His cultivation, his life force, and now, his martial arts training—all encapsulated in that one fruit. The academy head was essentially demanding his life force in exchange for martial arts instruction.

Once his life force was taken away, everything else would be taken away as well.

“The tuition fee is too steep!” Chen Fei shook his head.

It’s expensive for a reason. If you can’t afford it, you can use these as payment,” the martial arts academy head said, eyes filled with greed as he pointed to the slightly smaller fruits. Among these fruits, one exuded a sense of soaring sword intent, another was shrouded in dark energy, and one depicted a figure that seemed to roar defiantly towards the heavens.

“No, you’ve misunderstood me. When 1 said it’s too expensive, I meant I’m afraid you won’t be able to afford to double it,” Chen Fei replied as he looked at the academy head.

As his mind became clearer and his thoughts flowed more freely, even though he still couldn’t remember many things, Chen Fei had an almost obsessive self-confidence in his ability to learn.

This self-confidence was unfounded, but Chen Fei believed in it deeply.

The academy head was momentarily taken aback by Chen Fei’s words and then burst into loud laughter. His laughter was both icy and mocking.

He wondered how someone who had earned a bit of money dared to be so arrogant! But arrogance was good; without it, how could he stake someone’s life force and everything else?

Don’t worry, if 1 dare to promise double returns, 1 can definitely afford it, as long as you dare to enter my martial arts academy!”

The academy head stopped laughing, looked down at Chen Fei, and the mockery in his eyes remained unhidden..